No-tie fishing system and method

ABSTRACT

A no-tie fishing system is provided with a fish attractor having an open eye with a blocker. The eye of the fish attractor is disposed at an end of a shank. The eye includes a distal end disposed adjacent to and spaced from the shank. The fishing system also includes a fishing line having a first end with a sliding loop formed thereon. The sliding loop may be releasably engaged with the eye of the fish attractor. The fishing line may have a second end with a fixed loop formed thereon for releasable engagement with other portions of the fishing system.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/398,897filed Sep. 17, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. ______; which claims the benefitof Ser. No. 60/111,305, filed on Dec. 7, 1998, and is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/129,106 filed Aug. 4,1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,650.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to fishing equipment and, moreparticularly, to a no-tie fishing system and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fishing equipment is available in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors andconfigurations for attracting and catching different species of fish.Examples of fishing equipment include devices for hooking and catchingthe fish, such as fishing lures or fish attractors, and fishing line forcasting and retrieving the fish attractors. Several examples of fishattractors include spinner baits, jigs, plastic worms, fish hooks forattaching colorful or scented materials, fishing flies, and the like.Several examples of fishing line include monofilament line, leaders,tapered leaders, tippets, fly line, and the like.

Fishing equipment is generally designed and constructed for attractingand catching a specific species of fish. For example, fishing flies aregenerally constructed to resemble any one of a variety of species ofinsect that a particular species of fish feeds upon. Accordingly, sometypes of fishing equipment are generally very small. For example, a size18 fish hook for a fishing fly measures approximately seven millimetersin length. Additionally, fish attractors generally include an eye forattaching the fishing line so that the fish attractor can be cast andretrieved. To maintain the appearance and attractability of the fishattractor, the eye is also generally constructed very small and inproportion to the size of the fish attractor.

However, connecting various types of fishing line material together andconnecting the fishing line to the fish attractor can be cumbersome andtime consuming. For example, since some types of fish attractors aregenerally constructed very small, threading and tying fishing line tothe eye of the fish attractor becomes extremely difficult. With averageor below average eyesight; poor lighting conditions; inclement weather;wind; a necessity to change the fish attractor quickly, such as duringthe limited minutes of a hatch; or stiff, cold, wet, large, or arthritichands; the difficulty and problem of threading and tying the fishingline to the eye of the fish attractor is greatly magnified.

Additionally, the size of the eye of the fish attractor generallydetermines the size of fishing line that may be used with the fishattractor. The smaller eyes of the fish attractors generally requiresmaller fishing line. Consequently, the fishing line becomes smaller indiameter, more limp, more difficult to see, and increasingly difficultto handle. For example, a size 18 fishing fly is approximately sevenmillimeters in length, has a fish hook eye outside diameter ofapproximately 0.75 millimeters, a fish hook eye inside diameter ofapproximately 0.30 millimeters, and will generally accommodate fishingline through the eye of the fish hook of approximately 0.13 millimetersor less. Thus, the flexibility of using a variety of sizes of fishattractor devices with different diameter fishing line is limited.

Further, interchanging fish attractors may require time consuming andcumbersome replacement of various sections of the fishing line. Forexample, leaders used in fly fishing may include several joined sectionsof line decreasing in diameter from the fly line to the fishing fly ortippet. When interchanging fishing flies, various portions of thefishing line are generally cut off and may require adding sections tothe leader, replacement of the leader, replacement of the tippet, orreplacement of both the leader and the tippet. Thus, the flexibility ofinterchanging fish attractors is generally limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a need has arisen for an improved fishing system and methodthat provides greater ease and flexibility of use. The present inventionprovides no-tie fishing equipment and method that addresses shortcomingsof prior fishing equipment and related methods of using such equipment.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a no-tie fishingsystem includes a fish attractor having an eye. The eye includes agenerally circular configuration and is disposed at an end of a shank.The eye also includes a distal end disposed adjacent to and permanentlyspaced from the shank. The system also includes a fishing line having afirst end. A sliding loop is formed at the first end of the fishing linefor releasably engaging the fishing line with the eye of the fishattractor. A permanently formed gap is disposed between the distal endof the eye and the shank. The gap is sized to allow the fishing line toslide therethrough.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forfabricating no-tie fishing equipment for a fishing device includesproviding a fishing line having a first end. The method also includesforming a sliding loop on the first end of the fishing line forreleasably engaging the fishing line with the fishing device.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method forforming a no-thread fishing apparatus includes forming a point on afirst end of a shank and forming a barb on the first end of the shankadjacent the point. The method also includes forming the first end ofthe shank into a hook and forming an eye having a generally circularconfiguration on the second end of the shank. The eye includes a distalend disposed adjacent to and permanently spaced from the shank therebyforming a permanent gap between the distal end of the eye and the shank.The gap is sized to allow a fishing line to slide therethrough. Themethod also includes forming a first blocker on the second end of theshank. The first blocker is positioned to prevent a fishing line coupledto the eye from sliding off the eye. The method further includes forminga second blocker on the shank. The second blocker is disposed betweenthe hook and the first blocker. The second blocker is positioned toprevent an attractor attached to the shank from obstructing the gap.

The present invention provides several technical advantages. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the no-tie fishing system allowseasier attachment of fishing line than other fishing equipment. Forexample, a sliding loop may be formed on one end of the fishing line andreleasably engaged with the eye of a fish attractor. Combining a slidingloop with an eye incorporating teachings of the present inventionsubstantially eliminates threading fishing line through the eye of afish attractor and tying the fishing line to the eye of the fishattractor.

A no-tie fishing system incorporating teachings of the present inventionprovides greater flexibility than prior fishing systems by allowingincreased use of smaller fish attractors with larger diameter fishingline. For example, smaller fish attractors generally include smallerdiameter eyes. A sliding loop formed on one end of the larger diameterfishing line may be releasably engaged with the eye of the smaller fishattractor. Combining a sliding loop with an eye incorporating teachingsof the present invention substantially eliminates threading the largerdiameter fishing line through the generally smaller diameter eye of thesmall fish attractor.

Additionally, a no-tie fishing system incorporating teachings of thepresent invention allows easier interchangeability of fishing devicesthan other fishing systems by color coding a fish attractor and/or afishing line. For example, color codes may be added to a leader, atippet, and/or a fish attractor to designate the leader, tippet and/orfish attractor for use in particular fishing applications. The leader,tippet, and/or fish attractor may be easily interchanged with a newleader, tippet, and/or fish attractor for use in a different fishingapplication using the color codes.

A no-tie fishing system incorporating the teachings of the presentinvention also provides greater efficiency than other fishing systems.For example, combining a sliding loop with an eye incorporatingteachings of the present invention substantially reduces loss of fishingline resulting from removing portions of the fishing line wheninterchanging fish attractors.

Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled inthe art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing in elevation showing a no-tie fishingsystem constructed in accordance with teachings of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the no-tie fishing systemshown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A through 3C are enlarged elevational views illustrating a methodfor constructing a sliding loop for a no-tie fishing system constructedin accordance with teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing in elevation illustrating an alternateembodiment of a no-tie fishing system constructed in accordance withteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the no-tie fishing systemshown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A through 6G are enlarged elevational views illustrating a methodfor constructing a no-tie fishing apparatus in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are enlarged elevational views illustrating alternateembodiments of a no-tie fishing apparatus in accordance with theteachings of the present invention; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B are enlarged elevational views illustrating an alternateembodiment of a no-tie fishing apparatus in accordance with theteachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention and its advantages are bestunderstood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 8B of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating one embodiment of a no-tiefishing system 10 constructed in accordance with teachings of thepresent invention. Fishing system 10 includes fish attractor 12 andfishing line 14 attached to fish attractor 12. In the illustratedembodiment, fish attractor 12 may be generally described as a fishingfly. However, other suitable types and configurations of fish attractors12 may be used, such as spinner baits, jigs, plastic worms, fish hooks,and the like (not explicitly shown).

Fish attractor 12 of fishing system 10 includes hook 16 having eye 18for attaching fishing line 14 to fish attractor 12 so that fishattractor 12 can be cast and retrieved. In the illustrated embodiment,fishing line 14 includes tippet 20, leader 22, and fly line 24. However,fishing line 14 may include other suitable types and arrangements offishing devices and materials for releasable engagement with fishattractor 12. For example, fish attractor 12 may be attached directly toleader 22 or fly line 24 (not explicitly shown).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, tippet 20 is preferably coupledto leader 22 by joining fixed loop 26 formed at one end of tippet 20with fixed loop 28 formed at one end of leader 22. Additionally, leader22 may be coupled to fly line 24 by joining fixed loop 30 formed atanother end of leader 22 with fixed loop 32 formed at one end of flyline 24. For example, fixed loops 26 and 28 and fixed loops 30 and 32may be respectively coupled using a handshake method of attachment asillustrated in FIG. 1. However, other suitable methods or devices may beused for attaching sections of fishing line 14 together. As will bedescribed in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3, fishingline 14 is preferably releasably engaged with fish attractor 12 using asliding loop 34.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating a portion of fishing system 10.In the illustrated embodiment, eye 18 of hook 16 provides a location forattaching fishing line 14 to fish attractor 12 so that fish attractor 12can be cast and retrieved. Eye 18 includes distal end 36 disposedadjacent shank 38 and spaced from shank 38. Eye 18 of fish attractor 12also includes blocker 40 for preventing sliding loop 34 of fishing line14 attached to eye 18 from sliding off eye 18. In the illustratedembodiment, blocker 40 includes barb 42 projecting outwardly from distalend 36 for preventing sliding loop 34 attached to eye 18 from slidingoff eye 18. However, blocker 40 may be constructed having other suitableshapes or configurations for preventing sliding loop 34 from sliding offeye 18. For example, blocker 40 may project inward or outward withrespect to distal end 36.

Fishing line 14 may be attached to fish attractor 12 using sliding loop34. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, sliding loop 34 is formedat one end of tippet 20. In operation, eye 18 of fish attractor 12,having distal end 36 spaced from shank 38, allows sliding loop 34 to bereleasably engaged with eye 18. Sliding loop 34 may be tightened orclinched to eye 18, thereby securing tippet 20 to fish attractor 12.Sliding loop 34 may be loosened to allow removing fish attractor 12 andattaching another fish attractor to fishing line 14. A silicon coatingor other suitable lubricant may be applied to portions of fishing line14 to provide easier engagement and disengagement of sliding loop 34with eye 18. Thus, fishing system 10 provides for easier attachment andremoval of fish attractors from fishing line 14 than prior fishingsystems by alleviating a requirement of threading and tying tippet 20 toeach fish attractor.

Additionally, fishing system 10 provides greater flexibility than priorfishing systems by allowing fish attractor 12 to be used with anincreased variety of sizes of fishing line 14. For example, largerdiameter fishing line 14 may be releasably engaged with eye 18 usingsliding loop 34, thereby alleviating a requirement of threading andtying the larger diameter fishing line 14 onto eye 18 of fish attractor12.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are enlarged elevational views illustrating onemethod for fabricating a sliding loop 34 for use with a fishing systemincorporating teachings of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3A,loops 44 and 46 are formed using free end 48 of tippet 20. Loops 44 and46 are positioned adjacent one another and adjacent central portion 50of tippet 20.

Referring to FIG. 3B, free end 48 of tippet 20 is looped over centralportion 50 of tippet 20 and through loops 44 and 46. Free end 48 is thenwrapped around central portion 50 and through loops 44 and 46 severaltimes to form a plurality of loops 52 around central portion 50 andloops 44 and 46. In the illustrated embodiment, free end 48 is wrappedaround central portion 50 and through loops 44 and 46 four times.However, free end 48 may be wrapped around central portion 50 andthrough loops 44 and 46 any number of times to produce sliding loop 34.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a force is applied to free end 48 of tippet 20 inthe direction indicated by arrow 54, thereby drawing free end 48 oftippet 20 away from loops 44, 46 and 52. The applied force to free end48 of tippet 20 causes loops 44, 46 and 52 to be drawn together to forma sliding loop knot 56. Sliding loop knot 56 allows sliding loop 34 tobe increased or decreased in diameter for releasable engagement ofsliding loop 34 with eye 18 of fish attractor 12.

In operation, sliding loop 34 may be placed over distal end 36 of eye 18of fish attractor 12. A force is applied to sliding loop knot 56 to movesliding loop knot 56 toward eye 18 of fish attractor 12, thereby causingsliding loop 34 to decrease in diameter. As sliding loop 34 decreases indiameter, sliding loop 34 becomes tightened or clinched against eye 18of fish attractor 12, thereby securing fishing line 14 to fish attractor12. Blocker 40 of eye 18 prevents sliding loop 34 from disengaging fromeye 18.

Additionally, fishing line 14 may be readily detached from fishattractor 12 by reversing the above-described operation. For example, aforce may be applied to sliding loop knot 56 to move sliding loop knot56 away from eye 18 of fish attractor 12, thereby causing sliding loop34 to increase in diameter. As sliding loop 34 increases in diameter,sliding loop 34 may be readily moved over blocker 40 and removed fromeye 18 of fish attractor 12.

Thus, fishing system 10 provides greater flexibility than prior fishingsystems by providing for easier engagement and disengagement of fishingline 14 and fish attractor 12. Additionally, fishing system 10 providesgreater flexibility than prior fishing systems by allowing increased useof smaller fish attractors 12 with larger diameter fishing line 14. Forexample, distal end 36 of eye 18 may be disposed adjacent shank 38 andspaced from shank 38 various distances to accommodate a variety ofdiameters of fishing line 14. Sliding loop 34 of fishing line 14 may beeasily placed onto eye 18 of fish attractor 12 and secured using slidingloop knot 56.

Fishing system 10 may also be color coded to provide for easierinterchangeability of fish attractor 12 and fishing line 14. Forexample, a specific type of fish attractor 12 may be designed andconstructed for generally lightweight fishing applications. Accordingly,the lightweight fish attractor 12 may require a correspondinglightweight fishing line 14 or fishing line 14 having a particularlength or diameter. For example, a lightweight fish attractor 12 mayrequire a particular length or diameter of tippet 20 for attaching tolightweight fish attractor 12. Eye 18 of lightweight fish attractor 12may be color coded to designate that lightweight fish attractor 12requires a particular length or diameter of tippet 20.

Fishing line 14 may also be color coded to designate fishing line 14 fora particular fishing application. Referring to FIG. 1, for example,fishing line 14 may be color coded by color coding sliding loop 34,fixed loops 26 and 28, and fixed loops 30 and 32 of fishing line 14.Thus, for example, a specific type, diameter or length of tippet 20 maybe easily replaced with another type, diameter or length of tippet 20 toaccommodate a particular fishing application by selecting tippet 20using the color codes of sliding loop 34 and/or fixed loop 26 of tippet20.

For example, interchanging fish attractor 12 may require a differentdiameter tippet 20. Instead of adding or removing sections to leader 22to accommodate the different diameter tippet 20, leader 22 may be easilyreplaced by selecting a new leader 22 using the color codes of fixedloops 28 and 30 of the new leader 22. For example, the new leader 22 maybe selected by correlating the color codes of fixed loops 28 and 30 withthe color codes of fixed loop 26 of tippet 20 and fixed loop 32 of flyline 24. Therefore, fishing system 10 provides for easierinterchangeability than prior fishing systems by color coding fishattractor 12, fishing line 14, or both fish attractor 12 and fishingline 14.

For some applications, such as nymph fishing with a fishing fly type offish attractor 12, color coding of fixed loops 26 and/or 28 may be usedto indicate fish strikes with fish attractor 12. For example, colorcoding of fixed loops 26 and/or 28 may indicate movement of fishattractor 12 resulting from fish strikes on fish attractor 12.

Additionally, fishing system 10 provides greater flexibility than priorfishing systems by providing for easier interchangeability of fishingline 14 and fish attractor 12. For example, sliding loop 34 of fishingline 14 alleviates the requirement of detaching or cutting off a sectionof fishing line 14 for attaching fishing line 14 to a new fish attractor12. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, sliding loop 34 of tippet 20 maybe easily removed from eye 18 of fish attractor 12 by applying a forceto sliding loop knot 54 away from eye 18 and removing sliding loop 34from eye 18. Sliding loop 34 of tippet 20 may then be easily placed ontoeye 18 of a new fish attractor 12, thereby alleviating a requirement ofdetaching or cutting off a section of tippet 20 for attaching to the eye18 of the new fish attractor 12. Therefore, fishing system 10 providesfor greater flexibility than prior fishing systems by providing easierinterchangeability of fish attractor 12 and fishing line 14.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing in elevation showing an alternateembodiment of fishing system 10 constructed in accordance with teachingsof the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, fish attractor12 may be generally described as a fishing lure. Additionally, in theillustrated embodiment, fishing line 14 includes leader 22 and line 60.As previously described, leader 22 may be coupled to line 60 by joiningfixed loop 30 formed at one end of leader 22 with fixed loop 62 formedat one end of line 60. Fixed loops 30 and 62 may be joined by using ahandshake method of attachment as illustrated in FIG. 4. However, othersuitable methods or materials may be used for attaching sections offishing line 14 together. As will be described in greater detail inconjunction with FIG. 5, fishing line 14 is preferably releasablyengaged with fish attractor 12 using sliding loop 34.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of fishing system 10. In theillustrated embodiment, fish attractor 12 also includes eye 18 havingdistal end 34 disposed adjacent shank 38 and spaced from shank 38. Shank38 is attached to body 58 of fish attractor 12 by threading or screwingshank 38 into body 58 of fish attractor 12. However, other suitablemethods or materials may be used to attach shank 38 to body 58 of fishattractor 12. Eye 18 of fish attractor 12 also includes blocker 40 forpreventing sliding loop 34 from disengaging from eye 18 of fishattractor 12. In the illustrated embodiment, blocker 40 includesprotrusion 64 projecting outwardly from distal end 36. However, othersuitable shapes or configurations of blocker 40 may be used to preventsliding loop 34 from disengaging from eye 18 of fish attractor 12. Forexample, blocker 40 may project inward or outward with respect to distalend 36.

Fishing line 14 may be attached to fish attractor 12 using sliding loop34. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, sliding loop 34 is formedat one end of leader 22. In operation, leader 22 of fishing line 14 isreleasably engaged with eye 18 of fish attractor 12 using sliding loop34. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, sliding loop 34 isplaced over protrusion 64 and onto eye 18 of fishing lure 58. A force isapplied to sliding loop knot 56 toward eye 18 causing sliding loop 34 todecrease in diameter. As sliding loop 34 decreases in diameter, slidingloop 34 becomes tightened or clinched against eye 18 of fish attractor12, thereby releasably engaging leader 22 of fishing line 14 with eye 18of fish attractor 12.

Additionally, as previously described, fishing line 14 may be readilydetached from fish attractor 12 by reversing the above-describedoperation. For example, a force may be applied to sliding loop knot 56to move sliding loop knot 56 away from eye 18 of fish attractor 12,thereby causing sliding loop 34 to increase in diameter. As sliding loop34 increases in diameter, sliding loop 34 may be readily moved overprotrusion 64 and removed from eye 18 of fish attractor 12.

Therefore, the present invention provides for increased flexibility byproviding easier and quicker interchangeability of fishing devices. Forexample, a variety of fishing devices, such as fish hooks, jigs, fishingflies, swivels, and the like, may be used with a variety of fishing line14 configurations to accommodate a variety of fishing applications.Additionally, the present invention provides greater flexibility byallowing increased diameter fishing line 14 to be used with a variety offishing devices.

FIGS. 6A-6G are enlarged elevational views illustrating a method forconstructing a no-tie fishing hook 70 in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention. FIG. 6A illustrates a shank 72 for formingno-tie fishing hook 70. No-tie fishing hook 70 may be constructed usingsteel or other suitable materials for shank 72. Additionally, a varietyof diameters of shank 72 may be used to construct no-tie fishing hook70. For example, no-tie fishing hook 70 may be constructed from shank 72having a small diameter to accommodate decreased bend radii insubsequent forming operations of shank 72, decreased weight of no-tiefishing hook 70, and decreased visibility during fishing conditions.

In FIG. 6B, a point 74 is formed at one end of shank 72. A barb 76 isformed at one end of shank 72 adjacent point 74 as illustrated in FIG.6C. Barb 76 may be used to prevent an attractor attached to no-tiefishing hook 70 from sliding off no-tie fishing hook 70. Additionally,barb 76 may be used to prevent a fish that has been hooked with no-tiefishing hook 70 from releasing no-tie fishing hook 70.

No-tie fishing hook 70 also includes blockers 78 and 80 formed on shank72 as illustrated in FIG. 6C. Blocker 78 may be formed on shank 72 tolimit the movement of an attractor attached to shank 72. As will bedescribed in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 6F, blocker 78 mayalso be formed on shank 72 to prevent an attractor attached to shank 72from obstructing a gap formed between a distal end of an eye and shank72. Blocker 80 may be formed on an end of shank 72 opposite point 74 toprevent a fishing line attached to no-tie fishing hook 70 from slidingoff no-tie fishing hook 70. For example, as will be described in greaterdetail in conjunction with FIG. 6F, blocker 80 may be formed to preventa fishing line engaged with an eye of no-tie fishing hook 70 fromsliding off the eye.

FIG. 6D is a side view of no-tie fishing hook 70 illustrated in FIG. 6Ctaken along the line 6D-6D of FIG. 6C. As illustrated in FIG. 6D,blockers 78 and 80 may include barbs 82 and 84, respectively. Forexample, barb 82 may be formed having a point 86 directed along shank 72and toward point 74, thereby preventing an attractor attached to shank72 from migrating along shank 72 beyond barb 82. Barb 84 may be formedhaving a point 88 directed along shank 72 and toward point 74. Thus, aswill be described in greater detail in conjunction with FIG. 6F, as aneye is formed at the end of shank 72 having barb 84, barb 84 may bepositioned to prevent a fishing line attached to the eye from slidingoff the eye.

FIG. 6E illustrates a side view of no-tie fishing hook 70 illustrated inFIG. 6D taken along the line 6E-6E of FIG. 6D. As illustrated in FIG.6E, a hook 90 is formed at an end of shank 72 containing point 72.Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 6D and 6E, barbs 82 and 84 may beformed in a plane approximately ninety degrees from a plane of hook 90to prevent damage or deformation to barbs 82 and 84 during formation ofhook 90. However, barbs 82 and 84 may also be formed at other suitableangles about shank 72 with respect to the plane of hook 90.

In FIG. 6F, an eye 92 having a generally circular configuration isformed at an end of shank 72 opposite hook 90. Eye 92 includes a distalend 94 disposed adjacent to and permanently spaced apart from shank 72,thereby forming a permanent gap 96 between distal end 94 of eye 92 andshank 72. Gap 96 may be sized to allow a fishing line to slide throughgap 96 to an interior portion of eye 92. For example, gap 96 may besized having a width measured between shank 72 and distal end 94 ofapproximately one half a diameter of shank 72. Further, for example, gap96 may be sized having a width of approximately two times a diameter ofa fishing line. Thus, gap 96 may be sized having a variety of sizes toaccommodate various fishing requirements and conditions.

As illustrated in FIG. 6F, eye 92 may be formed in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of hook 90 to prevent damage or deformation tobarbs 82 and 84 during formation of eye 92. However, eye 92 may also beformed in other suitable planes with respect to the plane of hook 90.Additionally, eye 92 may be formed having a variety of sizes toaccommodate various fishing requirements and conditions. For example,eye 92 may be formed having an interior diameter approximately two timesa diameter of shank 72. Thus, eye 92 may be formed having a small sizewhile allowing easy engagement and disengagement of a fishing line toeye 92.

As illustrated in FIG. 6F, blocker 80 is positioned on shank 72 suchthat after forming eye 92, blocker 80 is positioned to prevent a fishingline attached to eye 92 from sliding off distal end 94 of eye 92. Forexample, blocker 80 may include barb 84 having point 88 directed awayfrom distal end 94 of eye 92. Thus, in operation, sliding loop 34 may beplaced into gap 96, over distal end 94 and past barb 84 to releasablyengage eye 92 at a portion of eye 92 between barb 84 and blocker 78.Thus, barb 84 may be positioned to prevent sliding loop 34 from slidingoff distal end 94 of eye 92. Additionally, blocker 78 may be positionedalong shank 72 to prevent an attractor attached to shank 72 fromobstructing gap 96. For example, blocker 78 may be positioned on shank72 below gap 96 toward hook 90 such that blocker 78 prevents migrationof the attractor along shank 72 towards eye 92. Therefore, blocker 78may be positioned to limit the movement of the attractor along shank 72.Therefore, gap 96 may remain unobstructed for easy engagement anddisengagement of a fishing line with eye 92.

FIG. 6G illustrates an example method of forming a barb on no-tiefishing hook 70. In this example, barb 84 is formed in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of eye 92. However, the examplemethod described below may be applied to forming barbs at other suitablelocations and orientations on no-tie fishing hook 70. As illustrated inFIG. 6G, barb 84 may be formed by nicking or slicing a surface of shank72 to cause a portion 98 of shank 72 to partially separate from shank72. Portion 98 may be manipulated outwardly away from shank 72 to formbarb 84. The above-described method of forming barb 84 may also be usedto form barbs 76 and 82 of no-tie fishing hook 70. However, othersuitable methods may also be used to form barbs 82, 84 and 76.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged elevational view illustrating an alternateembodiment of a no-tie fishing hook 100 in accordance with the teachingof the present invention. In this example, no-tie fishing hook 100includes an eye 102 having a generally circular configuration disposedat one end of a shank 104. Eye 102 includes a distal end 106 disposedadjacent to and permanently spaced from shank 104, thereby forming apermanent gap 108 disposed between distal end 106 of eye 102 and shank104. Gap 108 may be sized to allow a fishing line to slide through gap108 and into an interior area of eye 102. For example, sliding loop 34may be slid through gap 108 and over distal end 106 to releasably engageeye 102.

No-tie fishing hook 100 also includes a hook 110 having a barb 112formed at an end of shank 104 opposite eye 102. No-tie fishing hook 100also includes a blocker 114 disposed on shank 104. Blocker 114 may bepositioned on shank 104 to prevent an attractor attached to shank 104from obstructing gap 108. For example, an attractor may be attached toshank 104 at hook 110 and extend along shank 104 toward blocker 114.Blocker 114 may be used to prevent the attractor from migrating upwardlyalong shank 104 toward gap 108. Therefore, blocker 114 may be positionedto prevent gap 108 from becoming obstructed, thereby providing easierengagement and disengagement of a fishing line to eye 102.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7A, blocker 114 includes awrapping medium 116, such as thread, plastic, or other suitablematerials. Wrapping medium 116 may be wrapped around shank 104 asrequired to prevent gap 108 from becoming obstructed. Wrapping medium116 may also include an elastic material that may be stretched and slidonto no-tie fishing hook 100 and slid along shank 104 to a desiredposition to prevent obstruction of gap 108.

FIG. 7B is an enlarged elevational view illustrating an alternateembodiment of a no-tie fishing hook 118 in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention. No-tie fishing hook 118 includes an eye 120having a generally circular configuration disposed at one end of a shank122. Eye 120 includes a distal end 124 disposed adjacent to andpermanently spaced from shank 122, thereby forming a permanent gap 126disposed between distal end 124 of eye 120 and shank 122. Gap 126 may besized to allow a fishing line to slide through gap 126 and into aninterior area of eye 120.

No-tie fishing hook 118 also includes a hook 128 having a barb 130formed at an end of shank 122 opposite eye 120. No-tie fishing hook 118also includes a blocker 132 to prevent an attractor attached to shank122 from obstructing gap 126. In this example, blocker 132 includes aprotrusion 134 formed on shank 122. Protrusion 134 may be sized toprevent a variety of sizes of attractors from migrating upwardly alongshank 122 toward eye 120 from obstructing gap 126. Blocker 132 may alsoinclude other suitable shapes and configurations to prevent attractorsattached to shank 122 from obstructing gap 126.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged elevational view illustrating an alternateembodiment of a no-tie fishing hook 150 in accordance with the teachingsof the present. In this example, no-tie fishing hook 150 includes an eye152 disposed at one end of a shank 154. No-tie fishing hook 150 alsoincludes a hook 156 having a barb 158 formed at an end of shank 154opposite eye 152. In this example, eye 152 is formed at an angle 160such that eye 152 is directed inwardly toward hook 156. However, eye 152may also be formed at other suitable angles and orientations. Eye 152also includes a blocker 162 to prevent a fishing line attached to eye152 from sliding off of eye 152. In this example, blocker 162 is formedby squeezing or flattening a distal end 164 of eye 152.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged side view of eye 152 illustrated in FIG. 8A takenalong the line 8B-8B of FIG. 8A. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, eye 152includes distal end 164 disposed adjacent to and permanently spacedapart from shank 154, thereby forming a permanent gap 166 between distalend 164 of eye 1.52 and shank 154. Gap 166 may be sized to allow afishing line to slide through gap 166 to an interior portion of eye 152.Thus, gap 166 may be sized to accommodate a variety of fishing linesizes to meet various fishing requirements and conditions.

As described above, blocker 162 may be formed by squeezing or flatteningdistal end 164 of eye 152, thereby increasing a width of distal end 164relative to a width of an adjacent portion 168 of eye 152. Eye 152 alsoincludes an arcuately formed portion 170 between distal end 164 andadjacent portion 168 of eye 152 to provide a smooth transition fromblocker 162 to adjacent portion 168. In operation, sliding loop 34 maybe slid through gap 166 and over blocker 162 to releasably engage eye152. Sliding loop 134 may then be tightened or clenched against eye 152.Thus, blocker 162 prevents sliding loop 34 from disengaging eye 152.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, andalterations, can be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1-37. (canceled)
 38. A no-tie fishing system comprising: a fishattractor having an eye, the eye having a generally circularconfiguration and disposed at an end of a shank, the eye having a distalend disposed adjacent to and permanently spaced from the shank; afishing line having a first end; a permanently formed gap disposedbetween the distal end of the eye and the shank, the gap sized to allowthe fishing line to slide therethrough; a sliding loop formed at thefirst end of the fishing line for releasably engaging the fishing linewith the eye of the fish attractor; the eye of the fish attractorcomprises a first color code; and the sliding loop of the fishing linecomprises a second color code wherein the first and second color codesindicate a specific fishing application.
 39. The fishing system of claim38, wherein the fishing line comprises a tippet.
 40. The fishing systemof claim 38, wherein the fishing line comprises a leader.
 41. Thefishing system of claim 38, wherein the fish attractor comprises afishing fly.
 42. The fishing system of claim 38, further comprising thefishing line having a second end with a fixed loop disposed thereon. 43.The fishing system of claim 38, wherein the fishing line furthercomprises: a first section having a first end and a second end; a secondsection having a first end and a second end; the sliding loop formed onthe first end of the first section; and the second end of the firstsection releasably engaged with the first end of the second section. 44.The fishing system of claim 43, wherein the first section comprises atippet, and wherein the second section comprises a leader.
 45. Thefishing system of claim 43, further comprising: a fixed loop formed onthe second end of the first section; and a fixed loop formed on thefirst end of the second section.
 46. A method for forming a no-threadfishing apparatus comprising: forming a point on a first end of a shank;forming a barb on the first end of the shank adjacent the point; formingthe first end of the shank into a hook; forming an eye having agenerally circular configuration on the second end of the shank, the eyehaving a distal end disposed adjacent to and permanently spaced from theshank thereby forming a permanent gap between the distal end of the eyeand the shank, the gap sized to allow a fishing line to slidetherethrough; forming a first blocker on the second end of the shank,the first blocker positioned to prevent a fishing line coupled to theeye from sliding off the eye; and forming a second blocker on the shank,the second blocker disposed between the hook and the first blocker, thesecond blocker positioned to prevent an attractor attached to the shankfrom obstructing the gap.
 47. The method of claim 46, wherein forming afirst blocker comprises forming a second barb.
 48. The method of claim46, wherein forming a second blocker comprises forming a second barb.49. The method of claim 48, wherein forming a second barb comprisesnicking a surface of the shank to form the second barb.
 50. The methodof claim 46, wherein forming a first blocker comprises forming a secondbarb disposed approximately ninety degrees from a plane of the hook. 51.The method of claim 46, wherein forming an eye comprises forming the eyesubstantially parallel to a plane of the hook.
 52. The method of claim46, wherein forming an eye comprises forming the eye having an interioreye diameter approximately two times a diameter of the shank.
 53. Themethod of claim 46, wherein forming a first blocker comprises flatteningthe distal end of the eye.
 54. A fishing apparatus including a fishingdevice defined in part by a shank with a hook disposed at a first end ofthe shank and an eye disposed at a second end of the shank, the fishingapparatus comprising: a fishing line having a first end with a slidingloop formed on the first end of the fishing line by a sliding loop knot;the eye having a generally circular configuration defined in part by adistal end disposed adjacent to and permanently spaced from the shank topermanently form a gap disposed between the distal end of the eye andthe shank; the gap size to accommodate engagement and disengagement ofthe sliding loop with the eye; the sliding loop knot operable toreleasably engage and disengage the fishing line with the eye of thefishing device; a blocker formed on the eye as an integral part thereofwithout crossing the shank with the blocker; the blocker projecting fromthe distal end of the eye to prevent the sliding loop from sliding offof the eye when the sliding loop knot has releasably engaged the fishingline with the eye; the sliding loop having a diameter which may bedecreased by movement of the sliding loop knot to releasably engage thefishing line with the eye by clinching the sliding loop against the eyeand which may be increased by movement of the sliding loop knot to allowmovement of the sliding loop over the blocker and disengagement of thesliding loop from the eye; the sliding loop knot defined in part by afirst loop and a second loop disposed adjacent to each other andadjacent to a central portion of the fishing line; a free end of thefishing line wrapped multiple times around the central portion andthrough the first loop and the second loop and drawn away from the firstloop and the second loop to form the sliding loop knot on the first endof the fishing line; and the sliding loop knot operable for movementalong the central portion of the fishing line to allow engaging anddisengaging the sliding loop knot with the eye of the fishing device.55. The fishing apparatus of claim 54 wherein the fishing line furthercomprises: a first section having a first end and a second end; a secondsection having a first end and a second end; the sliding loop formed onthe first end of the first section; and the second end of the firstsection releasably engaged with the first end of the second section. 56.The fishing apparatus of claim 55 further comprising: a first fixed loopformed on the second end of the first section; a second fixed loopformed on the first end of the second section; and the first fixed loopand the second fixed loop releasably engaged with each other.
 57. Thefishing apparatus of claim 54 further comprising: the sliding loop knotdefined in part by a first loop and a second loop disposed adjacent toeach other and adjacent to a central portion of the fishing line; a freeend of the fishing line wrapped multiple times around the centralportion and through the first loop and the second loop and drawn awayfrom the first loop and the second loop to form the sliding loop knot onthe first end of the fishing line; and the sliding loop knot operablefor movement along the central portion of the fishing line to allowengaging and disengaging the sliding loop knot with the eye of thefishing device.
 58. The fishing apparatus of claim 54 further comprisingthe blocker projecting inward with respect to the distal end.
 59. Thefishing apparatus of claim 54 further comprising the blocker projectingoutward with respect to the distal end.
 60. The fishing apparatus ofclaim 54 wherein the blocker further comprises a barb.
 61. A fishingapparatus including a fishing device defined in part by a shank with ahook disposed at one end of the shank and an eye disposed at a secondend of the shank, the apparatus comprising: a fishing line having afirst end with a sliding loop formed on the first end of the fishingline by a sliding loop knot; the eye having a distal end disposedadjacent to and permanently spaced from the shank to accommodateengagement and disengagement of the sliding loop with the eye; the shankhaving a first diameter and the eye having a second diameter at leastapproximately twice the first diameter; a blocker formed on the eyewithout any portion of the eye or the blocker crossing the shank; theblocker projecting from the distal end of the eye to prevent the slidingloop from sliding off of the eye; the sliding loop knot operable toreleasably engage and disengage the fishing line with the eye of thefishing device; the sliding loop having a diameter which may bedecreased by movement of the sliding loop knot to releasably engage thefishing line with the eye by clenching the sliding loop against the eye;and the diameter of the sliding loop may be increased by movement of thesliding loop knot to allow movement of the sliding loop over the blockerand disengagement of the sliding loop from the eye.
 62. A fish hook anda fishing line comprising: a shank; a hook disposed at a first end ofthe shank; an eye disposed at a second end of the shank; the eye havinga distal end disposed adjacent to and permanently spaced a selecteddistance from the shank to allow a portion of the fishing line to slideinto the eye; the fishing line having a diameter; the distance betweenthe distal end of the eye and the shank at least equal to approximatelytwice the diameter of the fishing line; a blocker disposed on andforming an integral part of the eye to prevent the portion of thefishing line from sliding off the eye; the distal end of the eye, theeye and the shank disposed in approximately the same plane; a slidingloop formed on a first end of the fishing line by a sliding loop knot;the sliding loop providing the portion of the line which slides into theeye; the sliding loop having a diameter which may be decreased bymovement of a sliding loop knot to releasably engage the fishing linewith the eye by clenching the sliding loop against the eye and which maybe released by movement of the sliding loop knot to allow movement ofthe sliding loop over the blocker and disengagement of the sliding loopfrom the eye; and the sliding loop knot operable for movement to allowengaging and disengaging the sliding loop from the eye of the fish hook.63. The fish hook and fishing line of claim 62 further comprising thedistance between the distal end of the eye and the shank equal toapproximately twice the diameter of the fishing line.
 64. The hook andthe fishing line of claim 62 further comprising the shank having adiameter and the eye having a diameter at least approximately twice thediameter of the shank.
 65. The hook and fishing line of claim 62 furthercomprising: the distance between the distal end of the eye and the shankequal to approximately twice the diameter of the fishing line; and theshank having a diameter and the eye having a diameter approximatelytwice the diameter of the shank.